The purpose of the study is to investigate the possible benefits of giving the anti-HIV drug maraviroc to people who are taking darunavir/ritonavir alone for their HIV treatment. Many people successfully take only darunavir/ritonavir treatment for their HIV. However, there are some concerns that this treatment may not reach some areas of the body, such as the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system or CNS), as effectively as it does the bloodstream.

There is already a large clinical study looking at any differences between 'conventional' HIV treatment with 3 drugs and single drug treatment with a protease inhibitor, also called PI monotherapy, such as darunavir/ritonavir. This includes differences in the effects on the CNS. However, this study will only be finished in 2013.

The investigators know that maraviroc can reach the CNS very effectively. The investigators in this study will investigate the effect of adding maraviroc to darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy by looking at levels of inflammation within the fluid that surrounds the CNS, called cerebrospinal fluid or CSF.

Maraviroc is a licensed drug for the treatment of HIV treatment.. It showed good results in 2 clinical studies when it was taken by people whose HIV virus had developed resistance to previous HIV treatments.

This study will also investigate safety as well as monitor effectiveness when patients take maraviroc is taken on top of normal treatment of darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy.

Maraviroc has been shown to be present in the fluid that surrounds the brain in people taking Maraviroc. It is not known if whether the presence of Maraviroc has any impact on brain function. Therefore this study will also investigate brain (neurocognitive) functioning with a computer test and some written tests.

if female and of childbearing potential, she is using effective birth control methods (as agreed by the investigator) and is willing to continue practising these birth control methods during the trial and for at least 30 days after the end of the trial (or after last intake of investigational ARVs); Note: Women who are postmenopausal for least 2 years, women with total hysterectomy, and women who have a tubal ligation are considered of non-childbearing potential

if a heterosexually active male, he is using effective birth control methods and is willing to continue practising these birth control methods during the trial and until follow-up visit

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients meeting 1 or more of the following criteria cannot be selected:

is infected with HIV-2

is using any concomitant therapy disallowed as per SPC for the study drugs (section 5.2)

has a currently active AIDS defining illness (Category C conditions according to the CDC Classification System for HIV Infection 1993) with the following exceptions (must be discussed with the Investigator prior to enrolment):Stable cutaneous Kaposi's Sarcoma (no pulmonary or gastrointestinal involvement other than oral lesions) unlikely to require systemic therapy during the trial period Note: Primary and secondary prophylaxis for an AIDS defining illness is allowed

has acute viral hepatitis including, but not limited to, A, B, or C

has chronic hepatitis B and/or C

has received any investigational drug within 30 days prior to the trial drug administration

Clinically significant allergy or hypersensitivity to any trial medication excipients

Any condition (including drug/alcohol abuse) or laboratory results which, in the investigator's opinion, interfere with assessments or completion of the trial.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01680536